Summer Self Care
Ayurveda: The Science of Life
Ayurveda is a system of healing from India that uses nature as medicine, both preventatively and curatively. It focuses on diet, herbal therapies, bodywork, and lifestyle to create conditions for optimal health. Ayurveda is personalized medicine, meaning that it uses a person’s unique story and history to create a specialized path and plan for healing. At Jane’s House Studio in Saint Charles, we offer many opportunities to learn about and practice Ayurveda, specifically to support the changes that arise with the seasons.
Self-awareness, self-study, and self-inquiry are key pieces to participating fully in one’s own well-being. As a person becomes more skilled at listening to and understanding one’s own unique psychological, physiological, and behavioral tendencies, the more adept one becomes at intervening with corrective and supportive actions to re-establish balance by living in harmony with nature, both inner and outer. The most comforting and supportive aspect of Ayurveda is that it appreciates the uniqueness of each individual and thus becomes personalized medicine.
Pancha Mahabhuta: The Five Great Elements
Nature is not only one large entity, but also made of smaller parts. In Ayurveda, nature is composed of five elements, bhutas in Sanskrit, that are present in everything, including humans. Below are the elements from most subtle to most gross.
Ether: Space to expand and contain. Ether holds, expands, and unifies.
Air: Air to breathe. Air mobilizes, exchanges, and inspires.
Fire: Sun and light to transform and grow. Fire energizes, activates, and transforms.
Water: Water to hydrate. Water softens, surrenders, and flows.
Earth: Earth to nourish and support. Earth grounds, centers, and stabilizes.
Doshas: The Three Forces
Ayurveda further packages nature and the elements into constitutions called doshas. The doshas give a concise picture of how a specific combination of elements exists uniquely in each person. They also map on to the times of the day as well as the seasons, creating an Ayurvedic clock and calendar. There are three doshas, and each is composed of two of the five elements. Due to the nature of the qualities paired together, it requires a “force” that allows them to harmonize. Dosha is translated as “fault,” indicating the line between the elements and the dynamic force that holds them together. Below are the doshas from most subtle to most gross.
Vata: Ether + Air. The energy of action, transportation, and movement.
Pitta: Fire + Water. The energy of transformation, conversion, and digestion.
Kapha: Water + Earth. The energy of nourishment, construction, and hydration.
Pitta Season: Summer
Summer is considered pitta season, demonstrating qualities of heat, lightness, and sharpness, and summer requires special attention in order balance pitta dosha. In a balanced state, pitta expresses as a strong sense of self, mental clarity, confidence, and a radiant glow. In an imbalanced state, pitta expresses as excess heat in the body through heartburn, acid reflux, loose stools, sunburn, hot flashes, etc. Excess heat in the mind expresses as aggravation, frustration, judgment, and criticism.
To balance excess pitta, pay attention to heat, excessive sensory engagement, and overcommitting to work or social activities. The water element soothes, and the earth element grounds. Focus on fresh and juicy summer fruits, planning meals ahead of time, lighter proteins, and adequate rest. Cooling spices and herbs include fennel, coriander, cilantro, cardamom, mint, hibiscus, and rose. Above all - when in doubt, simplify!
A Contemplation:
What does it look like to honor this season in your life? What nourishment do you need right now?
We invite you to learn and practice Ayurveda with us at Jane’s House Studio!